Alexander Zverev leads from the front in Germany's United Cup win: "I told the team I felt we deserved to be here"
ATPFriday, 05 January 2024 at 20:20
Despite Maria Sakkari's terrific win over Angelique Kerber at the United Cup, Alexander Zverev led from the front with a pair of wins to hoist them into the semi-finals of the 2024 United Cup defeating Greece in the process.
After sealing a straight sets win over Stefanos Tsitsipas to level the tie with Greece, he teamed with Laura Siegemund to clinch the mixed doubles 6-3, 6-3 over Petros Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari. They will now play Australia on Saturday night in the semi-finals.
Zverev who was touted today by Coco Vandeweghe as a potential favourite for the Australian Open showed why he has been lauded this week. He has won five out of six matches this week and has only dropped a tie-break with Kerber in the 2-1 loss to France in the group stage. Despite Kerber not joining Zverev this time, Siegemund played the ultimate team role and jumped in to join Zverev hoisting them to victory.
“A few days ago I wasn’t sure if we would be in the quarter-finals or not. I told the team I felt we deserved to be here,” Zverev said of the team showing the ever increasing belief throughout.
“I had to come out aggressive because I knew Stefanos is one of the best aggressive players, if not the best aggressive player, in the game,” Zverev continued. “If he is on the front foot it’s extremely difficult to play against him and that’s why I don’t have a great record against him.”
Siegemund said, “I really just tried to focus on my job. It was a pretty big match with the weight on our shoulders trying to carry the team forward to the semis. We’re a dangerous mixed when it comes to 1-all.”
Maria Sakkari was terrific against Angelique Kerber and has also shown exquisite form this week with a 6-0, 6-3 win over the former World No.1, but as is the case with this format, it can soon be null and void in the other two clashes. They face the red-hot Australia team for a spot in the final with Poland led by Iga Swiatek facing Caroline Garcia's France in the other tie.
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